BOEM completes enviro review for 2.1-GW Empire Wind off New York

September 13 (Renewables Now) - The US Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management (BOEM) has concluded the environmental analysis for the 2.1-GW Empire Wind offshore wind project in New York, expecting to issue a Record of Decision in the autumn.

The Department of Interior (DOI) agency said on Monday that the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is due to be published in the Federal Register on September 15. The report, which reviewed the potential environmental impacts based on the project’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP), can be viewed on BOEM’s website.

Empire Wind is a combination of two offshore projects – Empire Wind 1 and 2, which are being developed by a partnership between Equinor ASA (NYSE:EQNR) and BP Plc (LON:BP). Planned to be installed in a federal lease area about 12 nautical miles south of Long Island, the complex will be made of 147 turbines and will be providing power to the state of New York through a connection to the grid in Brooklyn and Long Beach. The 57-turbine Empire Wind 1 and 90-turbine Empire Wind 2 will be electrically isolated and independent from each other.

According to BOEM’s estimates, the wind farms should be capable of producing power for more than 700,000 homes annually, once in operation.